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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the age at which a child may express a preference to the |
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court on issues regarding residence and conservatorship in a suit |
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affecting the parent-child relationship. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 153.009(a) and (f), Family Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 153.009. INTERVIEW OF CHILD IN CHAMBERS. (a) In a |
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nonjury trial or at a hearing, on the application of a party, the |
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amicus attorney, or the attorney ad litem for the child, the court |
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shall interview in chambers a child 15 [12] years of age or older
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and may interview in chambers a child under 15 [12] years of age to
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determine the child's wishes as to conservatorship or as to the |
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person who shall have the exclusive right to determine the child's |
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primary residence. The court may also interview a child in chambers |
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on the court's own motion for a purpose specified by this |
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subsection. |
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(f) On the motion of a party, the amicus attorney, or the |
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attorney ad litem for the child, or on the court's own motion, the |
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court shall cause a record of the interview to be made when the |
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child is 15 [12] years of age or older. A record of the interview
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shall be part of the record in the case. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |